Larson-Juhl ?

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dennykyser

dennykyser

True Grumbler
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
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Loc
Pennsylvania
Many know I own a photography studio and a few years ago started offering framing. I did this for 2 reasons, the first there is no framing shops close by, and besides a hobby type place only one shop in the county(which is up for sale). In our rural area it would be tough to support a stand alone frame shop but as an add on to my photography business has been a good profit center.

I have been selling inexpensive frames, because that is what I offer. I want to start getting more custom frame jobs, especially during the fall, winter and spring times and wonder if offering a nice brand for frame like from Larson-Juhl is the direction I need to go.

Before opening my photography business I was a business mgr for a GM dealership and witnessed a huge percentage of people buying New cars with Cash, so I know there are potential customers with $$ but do not think I will see them offering budget minded frames.

I do have an account with LJ, just have never used them, hoping to change that.

Any thoughts.
 
By default (actually USA Wholesale's fault for going belly up), I will have an LJ account. I have never dealt with them before because I've seen their price point on similarly offered frames from other distributors / manufacturers.

Having said that, I do carry some high end mouldings from Designer and Roma. THEY SELL. Not in tons, mind you, but they do sell.

If you get a reputation in the community as the "cheap frame shop" you will find it hard to shake the perception. I keep a wide variety of framing materials from the inexpensive to the most expensive. One of my Roma mouldings retails for $85.00 a foot. I don't sell it often, but when I do, it's a large sale.

My shop is not considered inexpensive by any stretch. But, eight years later, my door is still open when many of my collegues in this area are shuttered. I feel for them.

So, bottom line, what have you go to lose?

:kaffeetrinker_2:
 
I, for one, welcome our new photography overlords.


Sorry, that doesn't even make sense here I just have a mild form of Grumble turrets.


Larson would be tickled to talk over your options with you. And yep, you're not going to sell it if you don't show it. Seems like a no brainer.
 
May not still be the case but LJ used to have a photographer's program for photo shops that did limited framing. If I remember correctly I think they did cut and joins in a number of mouldings for just the chop price.
 
johnny said:
I, for one, welcome our new photography overlords.
Sorry, that doesn't even make sense here I just have a mild form of Grumble turrets.
Click to expand...

Not sure what was meant by that, maybe framers hate photographers offering framing, just like we hate everyone with a camera being a photographer.

I am a business person, and have found a niche for my very small town of 3800, and was doing ok with photography then I added framing which made us much more profitable and able to keep the doors open while many others closed.

I am not known as a cheap framing source, actually not known as a framer at all. I only offer framing for my customers, and until I was told and actually verified that the only frame shop with in a hour drive was up for sale, did I consider offering custom framing to the public.
 
i only carry moulding from companies that will deliver to my doorstep in their company truck. with that said i have four distributors that carry a combine total of seven different moulding lines.

out of those seven moulding companies Larson-juhl is our most popular. with omega moulding slowly taking more and more customers away from larson-juhl because of price point.

now thats not to say that we are a low end frame shop. just like
Framing Queen we carry some pretty costly moulding. but those high end sales have been lacking as of late. another thing we do is cut length to keep costs down. i don't know if you can do this or not but its a very good option.
 
Yes, it was a joke.

Except for the Larson being tickled to talk to you and that yes it's a no brainer that you should bring them in part.
 
Larson-Juhl is our nation's largest wholesaler of framing materials. Others have said they are expensive, and others complain about their policies, but the company has a very good product line, especially in mouldings, and they carry almost everything else you would ever need in the framing business.
 
Larson Juhl has been vital to the growth and success of my company. My experience is that loyalty has great benefits with Larson and I truly feel we have a partnership.

They have a wide variety of moulding, from their standard line to an aggressively priced contract line called, Arqadia. The Arqadia is usually a box program but they also have a program called, Arqadia Choice, where some of the line can be purchased in length for slightly more than the box price.

To figure out the best relationship for you with Larson, you should get together with a rep and explain what your goals are. The rep will show you products and programs that can be tailored to best suit your needs. If you do not have a rep immediately available (I have a rep that is available via phone, e-mail, or by appointment) - perhaps you can establish a relationship over the phone (not with the order desk, but with the DC that services your area.)

For example, it may be best that for some products, you purchase "joined" frames. Therefore, you will know your exact cost of a finished frame (and do not have to spend time building a frame when you could be taking pictures) and can sell it for a price where you know you will be profitable. Then you can concentrate on matting or just fitting.
 
I have been buying from larson for over twenty years .I have cut back on them though because now I have local companies that deliver.Do they deliver in your area because if not the shipping can get awfully expensive,especially on length mouldings.
 
framelady64 said:
I have been buying from larson for over twenty years .I have cut back on them though because now I have local companies that deliver.Do they deliver in your area because if not the shipping can get awfully expensive,especially on length mouldings.
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Larson Juhl is THE ONLY company that delivers and it is every other week and has to be a minimum order. I am telling you I am in the middle of nowhere.
 
I dont have the complaints many do about LJ. They have always been a reliable source with a good product line. My LJ Rep does a fantastic job! I say you should definetly show the LJ products. You wont sell what you dont show. That doesnt mean that you have to scrap the inexpensive line either. Have both available so you can offer a solution no matter what the customer has in mind. Start with the good stuff. If price is an issue you can fall back and present a less expensive option.
 
You must be in a geographical anomaly - 2 weeks from everywhere. I like LJ but then I work for two companies that are within 4 miles of their distribution warehouse. I can pick up rush orders at will call.
 
I have been dealing with Larson Juhl since they were Juhl Pacific. Started buying from them in 1981.

They have great lines, a range of prices prices and superb service.
 
My Larson rep, Harry Pangalos, was the first to show-up after our devastating fire two years ago. He is available ALL the time via his cell phone! And he digs to find solutions for us. About two weeks ago, I was looking for a gallery wrap stretcher bar that was 1 1/4" tall, because Decor was out of stock. Harry searched and called me back within about twenty minutes. Larson didn't have it, but Harry's quick response was AWESOME! THIS is why Harry won Larson's Best Rep a few years ago, nation-wide!

Wendy
The Art Corner
Salem, Ma.
 
Thanks everyone, wanted to kind of get an idea before I actually started advertising custom framing.

I will add a higher end line and get rid of some of the very low end frames. I will keep some less expensive frames, but not as many.
 
If Larson delivers, that is a definite plus. When I first started framing many years ago, our shop was in the middle of nowhere. Larson was the only company that delivered and only once a month. It was good to have that once a month because I could get my glass and foam core delivered. Chops were sent UPS on a daily basis if needed.

Larson has always been on my wall and always will be. However, I have also used others that I consider to be local companies, too.

I have learned to that displaying the high end frames right behind my design table makes them very visible. Customers go right to them. The low end frames are going to be displayed low and at the ends, less visible but still visible. This has definitely paid off. Also, fillets are very visible, not under the table any more. And what a surprise, I sell more fillets.
 
Dave said:
May not still be the case but LJ used to have a photographer's program for photo shops that did limited framing. If I remember correctly I think they did cut and joins in a number of mouldings for just the chop price.
Click to expand...

They still have the program, and they are coming out with a line of photo frames like Roma and Bella's but using basic mouldings, but they better be priced like Documounts. ;)
 
Framing

Have you considered Culver Art & Frame in Columbus. They do a great job, a smaller company with a great selection and service. Give them a try 800.882-2298
 
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